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Who takes the summer off from model railroading

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  • Member since
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  • From: Midtown Sacramento
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Posted by Jetrock on Tuesday, September 7, 2004 7:21 PM
Heh. Up here in Sacramento we consider taking off our wool sweaters when the themometer hits 105.

It was 99 degrees today--so I was out in the garage doing benchwork. I now have 16 feet of shelf upon which to lay out my layout.
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Posted by CBQ_Guy on Tuesday, September 7, 2004 4:12 PM
Take off model railroading just because it's Summer. NO WAY!

Why would you want to do that?! I never have and never will.
"Paul [Kossart] - The CB&Q Guy" [In Illinois] ~ Modeling the CB&Q and its fictional 'Illiniwek River-Subdivision-Branch Line' in the 1960's. ~
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Posted by darth9x9 on Tuesday, September 7, 2004 2:15 PM
April through October gives the club members the chance to get some major progress done on their modules. October is always a big slapsh for us at the Great Scale Model Train Show (www.gsmts.com). There are a couple of members in the club that are like sharks.....if they stopped modeling(swimming), they would die!

Bill Carl (modeling Chessie and predecessors from 1973-1983)
Member of Four County Society of Model Engineers
NCE DCC Master
Visit the FCSME at www.FCSME.org
Modular railroading at its best!
If it has an X in it, it sucks! And yes, I just had my modeler's license renewed last week!

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Posted by dharmon on Tuesday, September 7, 2004 10:33 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by vsmith

QUOTE: Originally posted by dharmon

QUOTE: Originally posted by vsmith

In summer it gets soooooo hot here (105 today !) I generally do alot less out in the hotbox known as the garage where my layout is. So I tend to work indoors on cars, locos, buildings, etc at the workbench.

I plan too add a window A/C to the garage but i have to add some insulation to it and seal it up better.


Great..so your the guy that's been running his AC.....you rich LA folks are gonna have us po' folks down south in rolling blackouts before you know it.....


Ehh, Shut up and get back to your miles of beach San Diego boy![:D] [8D]

I'm stuck here in inland Hot Angeles and dont need to hear any crying from you's guys laying back on the beach with yer Pina Colada's and Mai Tai's...[8D][:D]

Actually survived the whole day inside yesterday (105 ) with only the fans on, opened the house up early in the morning so it got real cool inside then shut up the doors and windows, kept the fans on and watched DVD's all day long! Not a bad day off...


It's amazing how after pouring the ice cold Corona into a mug, you can hold the empty bottle up to your ear and hear the ocean........before putting the bottle in a proper recycling container of course.
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Posted by vsmith on Tuesday, September 7, 2004 9:49 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by dharmon

QUOTE: Originally posted by vsmith

In summer it gets soooooo hot here (105 today !) I generally do alot less out in the hotbox known as the garage where my layout is. So I tend to work indoors on cars, locos, buildings, etc at the workbench.

I plan too add a window A/C to the garage but i have to add some insulation to it and seal it up better.


Great..so your the guy that's been running his AC.....you rich LA folks are gonna have us po' folks down south in rolling blackouts before you know it.....


Ehh, Shut up and get back to your miles of beach San Diego boy![:D] [8D]

I'm stuck here in inland Hot Angeles and dont need to hear any crying from you's guys laying back on the beach with yer Pina Colada's and Mai Tai's...[8D][:D]

Actually survived the whole day inside yesterday (105 ) with only the fans on, opened the house up early in the morning so it got real cool inside then shut up the doors and windows, kept the fans on and watched DVD's all day long! Not a bad day off...

   Have fun with your trains

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Posted by dharmon on Monday, September 6, 2004 11:41 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by vsmith

In summer it gets soooooo hot here (105 today !) I generally do alot less out in the hotbox known as the garage where my layout is. So I tend to work indoors on cars, locos, buildings, etc at the workbench.

I plan too add a window A/C to the garage but i have to add some insulation to it and seal it up better.


Great..so your the guy that's been running his AC.....you rich LA folks are gonna have us po' folks down south in rolling blackouts before you know it.....
  • Member since
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Posted by vsmith on Monday, September 6, 2004 11:23 PM
In summer it gets soooooo hot here (105 today !) I generally do alot less out in the hotbox known as the garage where my layout is. So I tend to work indoors on cars, locos, buildings, etc at the workbench.

I plan too add a window A/C to the garage but i have to add some insulation to it and seal it up better.

   Have fun with your trains

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Posted by Hawks05 on Monday, September 6, 2004 10:23 PM
ya i do. i didn't touch my stuff from probably mid April when softball started and i'd go watch that till the end of July when my baseball season was over. i haven't touched anything though for a month due to railfanning some, college stuff, now school is starting and i have to work now a lot because of my work experience class.

if i get some time though on saturdays or something i'll do some work, but until then i'll be working my bum off to make money for college and hopefully a new car next spring and watching college football.

my guess is probably the end of October i'll be doing work and going to shows though. hopefully by that time i'll have my building built for my layout and can find a place for that. also i need to get some more locos.
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Posted by Jetrock on Monday, September 6, 2004 10:06 PM
My garage is pretty toasty in the summer, so I definitely spend less time in there, but due to the fact that my wife has given me the OK to work on train stuff in the house, at least if it is contained to a box and doesn't take over the living room.

Summer is typically when I do more events (either playing with my band, putting on shows, DJing at clubs or midnight movies, or my music festival) which eats into model railroading time but does not entirely supplant it.
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Posted by jrbernier on Monday, September 6, 2004 7:26 PM
I really do not plan to take off the summer, but outdoor chores pile up, and there really are not many train shows to attend in July!

Jim Bernier

Modeling BNSF  and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin

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Posted by railman on Monday, September 6, 2004 7:06 PM
I don' t take the summer off, per say, however things must be done outside; and in Minnesota you savor every opportunity to fix things above freezing temperatures!
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Posted by robengland on Monday, September 6, 2004 6:48 PM
couldn't live without it that long :)
Rob Proud owner of the a website sharing my model railroading experiences, ideas and resources.
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Posted by BRAKIE on Monday, September 6, 2004 9:37 AM
No..I model 52 weeks a year..I will take some time to go catfishin' or race my 1/24th and 1/32 slot cars or perhaps a dinner date but model railroading is my main interest..Thankfully my yard isn't that big so it doesn't take long for me to cut my grass and of course being a bachelor means NO HONEY DO LISTS! [:0][:D]

Larry

Conductor.

Summerset Ry.


"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt  Safety First!"

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Posted by Big_Boy_4005 on Sunday, September 5, 2004 11:47 PM
I tried not to, but there were too many other things to do. I'll be getting back to it soon.
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Posted by ericsp on Sunday, September 5, 2004 11:41 PM
Since I live in a place where the summer temperature regularly exceeds 100F and my layout is not in an air conditioned room, I usually do not work on my layout much during the summer. However, I will work on and buy cars and locomotives over the summer.

"No soup for you!" - Yev Kassem (from Seinfeld)

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Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 5, 2004 9:24 PM
I slow down alot in the summer, mainly from mid-June until mid september, then I pick up again. During Winter I'm in full swing!!
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Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 5, 2004 8:52 PM
Like twhite, I'm now retired and spend more QUALITY time on the layout. Weather here is never a problem. Rainy weather keeps me on the layout nearly all day, sunny weather allows a half day in the garden and some honeydo's. Railfanning for me is on the Cascade Crossing east of Eugene, or multi days at Train Mountain near Klamath Falls, Oregon.
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Posted by dave9999 on Sunday, September 5, 2004 1:27 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by rexhea

Dave,
You might wish you had that boat very soon if Frances keeps coming your way. Any of your rolling stock hauling a biggggg boat. [(-D]
Keep it safe down there!

Rex, Tuscaloosa
"Roll Tide" [:D]


Rex,
I'm thinking of tying an inner tube to my butt[(-D]. Looks like we're gonna get a lot
of rain and some high winds. I just hope it doesn't strengthen too much when it
gets in the Gulf. They have already extended the hurricane warning up to Destin.
That's only about sixty miles from here. Time to play the waiting game!

It looks as if it might be headed your way in a couple of days. You would think
this thing would run out of rain[:D]. Better keep an eye out, it has the potential
to cause some serious flooding.

See ya at the SEC Championship Game,
Now that the Tide is eligible.
Dave
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Posted by Javern on Sunday, September 5, 2004 1:07 PM
yes I take the summer off from working on layout, work in the garden, ride motorcycle, etc. About Sept 1st I really start getting in the mood and fizzle out about March or so
  • Member since
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Posted by twhite on Sunday, September 5, 2004 12:51 PM
I used to take the summer off here in California when it got too darned hot to work on my garage layout. I'd chase the occasional train over Donner Summit, or go up the Feather River Canyon to Keddie and watch the unending procession of UP and BNSF on and off of the High-Line. Save the model railroading for the rainy(?) season out here in Sacramento. Now, since I've retired, I find myself doing a lot more model railroading during the summer, in fact the guys at my LHS kind of look wide-eyed when I come in with my July shopping list. They grin a lot and thank me profusely. Besides, I've found out that the scenery dries a lot faster during June and July than it does in December and January.
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Posted by rexhea on Sunday, September 5, 2004 12:38 PM
Dave,
You might wish you had that boat very soon if Frances keeps coming your way. Any of your rolling stock hauling a biggggg boat. [(-D]
Keep it safe down there!

Rex, Tuscaloosa
"Roll Tide" [:D]
Rex "Blue Creek & Warrior Railways" http://www.railimages.com/gallery/rexheacock
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Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 5, 2004 11:27 AM
Definately a "dark after supper" season hobby at our house. And with Pop Warner and High School football, time is limited until Thanksgiving.

Jim
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Posted by dave9999 on Sunday, September 5, 2004 8:31 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by rexhea


Heck! I am usually out bass fishing three or four times a week . Would you believe that since I got into this hobby 1 year ago that my boat hasn't been in the water. The up side to that is I stayed cool and really have had a good time.[:D]
The down side to that is I haven't had a fish fry either![dinner][sigh]

REX


I know what you mean...
I sold my boat early this summer and spend my time working on the railroad.
I'm in construction, so any activities other than work are limited to indoors. After
working in this Florida heat all week, the last thing I want to do is sit in a boat
all day with the sun beating down on me. Although I do miss it, fishing will have
to wait until fall. This is Labor Day weekend, which is supposed to be the last
weekend of summer, but we're still in the ninety's with high humidity.

I just started a new 'in the house" layout because my "in the shed" layout was
costing me a small fortune to keep cool. And even with the A/C running
constantly it never seems to cool down to a comfortable level. I guess this is
the price we pay for living in the South. Dave
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Posted by simon1966 on Sunday, September 5, 2004 8:08 AM
I live near St. Louis. I much prefer to spend time in my cool basement than outside in 95 degree temps and 90% humidity[:D] I never have really become used to the hot Summer. From now until it gets really cold, I will spend a lot less time on the layout and more outside.

Simon Modelling CB&Q and Wabash See my slowly evolving layout on my picturetrail site http://www.picturetrail.com/simontrains and our videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/MrCrispybake?feature=mhum

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Posted by BNSFNUT on Sunday, September 5, 2004 7:58 AM
I work on my layout all year but I do less modeling in the summer. I have many more things competing for my time in the summer so I do not do as much modeling in summer.
I get down to to operate the layout about 2 times a week in the summer but do not build much during the summer. I usually have a small progect going at any one time but never any thing big in the summer.
I have spent more time this (non) summer this year with the layout because of the poor weather we have had, it is hard to do yard work or railfan in the rain.

There is no such thing as a bad day of railfanning. So many trains, so little time.

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Posted by tutaenui on Sunday, September 5, 2004 4:56 AM
I do most of my modelling in summer. Its just to damn cold in the train room (garage) to spend to much time there in winter.
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Posted by traingeek087 on Sunday, September 5, 2004 1:16 AM
I'm thinking of taking it permenantly off for a few years because it's just eating my money and i wan't to buy a nicer car, and GM is a theif with their prices so I have to work my butt off to get cash.
Rid'n on the city of New Orleans................
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Posted by rexhea on Sunday, September 5, 2004 12:43 AM
I didn't take the summer off, but considering my power bill to cool the shop, I should have.[:(!]

Heck! I am usually out bass fishing three or four times a week . Would you believe that since I got into this hobby 1 year ago that my boat hasn't been in the water. The up side to that is I stayed cool and really have had a good time.[:D]
The down side to that is I haven't had a fish fry either![dinner][sigh]

REX
Rex "Blue Creek & Warrior Railways" http://www.railimages.com/gallery/rexheacock
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Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, September 4, 2004 11:41 PM
yeah, i do, mainly becuase theres this wonderthing called SAILING. it occupies my life like no other for 7 months. trains have almost as solid of a backround as boats and takes the other 5 months. both have lead me to mechanical engineering as prospective career after college. i blame everything on the diesel-electric systems - their just too cool.

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